In response to concerns expressed through the local press (original article linked here) Reigate & Banstead Borough Council issued the following detailed statement.
A follow up article, which includes part of the full response below, is linked here.
If residents have any concerns please contact one of your Councillors and we can provide further information. To date we have not heard direct from individual residents on the subject.
Statement in response to press enquiries about the clearance of debris from the Earlswood Upper Lake:
The work at Earlswood Lakes is ultimately to improve the habitat for wildlife, the facilities for anglers and the visual appearance of the site for residents and visitors.
On Thursday (28 January) alone, our Countryside Rangers spent the day at the site and removed over one tonne of debris from the Upper Lake, including a bench, metal work, tyres, brick rubble and a laptop (which we will be handing over to the police) along with a huge amount of general rubbish and litter. We will be removing more debris this week, when we will have more man power to enable us to do this.
We are also taking this opportunity to net the Upper Lake of fish to ensure it remains a wildlife haven and prevent it becoming attractive to illegal anglers. It has been home to nationally rare plants and great crested newts.
Fish are possibly introduced to the lake as eggs on birds’ legs/feet but also by people wanting to stock the lake for angling purposes (which is illegal). The fish then eat the tadpoles of frogs and newts and invertebrate lava living in there, such as dragon fly lava, as well as the water weed, which oxygenates the water needed by the invertebrates. It also reduces the risk of algal bloom in the warmer months – a problem often associated with stocked lakes, like the Lower Lake.
The Council will not be selling the fish that are removed. As is usual practice, we are paying a professional contractor a fee to remove the fish on our behalf. The majority will be transferred to the Lower Lake and some may be transferred to Horley Riverside Garden Park. Of those that are not put into the Lower Lake, such as Carp, a sample will be health-checked by the contractors, as required by the Environment Agency, before they can be introduced to other waters. They will then be re-homed as arranged by the contractors and the Horley Piscatorial Society (responsible for managing the fish stocks and angling on the Lower Lake). If the contractors are able to sell some of these fish on to other angling clubs it may lower the cost of our bill, but the Council will not profit from the sale. This type of arrangement is common place.
The Pike netted from the Upper Lake will either be returned to predate on the lake’s remaining small fry (fish) or removed to the Lower Lake. However as Pike eat the smaller fish, and the lower lake is for angling, this option is less likely but we will be guided by the Piscatorial Society.
The mussels are Swan Mussels, a species that has no special protection (the only UK species that does is the freshwater pearl mussel not found in this area of the country). We have been advised that healthy freshwater mussels will, like their marine cousins, happily survive periods of low water levels and will burrow into the mud to avoid predation. They are prey to some bird and goose species. Some fish species will also predate on them, and it is quite possible that carp, as they are bottom feeders will feed on especially young mussels.
We understand residents’ concerns but the work is being carried out in accordance with guidelines from the Environment Agency, who is aware of what we are doing, and our management plan for the site, which was drawn up 2008 in consultation with the public and relevant agencies. Whilst the works are taking place we have been checking the site daily and when the water level is lowered again we will be checking every few hours as we did before.
We have been careful in our monitoring and take issue with statement that dozens of fish have died as a result of this work. It is also unfortunate that no one contacted the Council to express their concerns prior to your article.
The netting of the fish was due to happen last week but because the lake iced over again it was postponed and the lake allowed to refill. It is more humane for the fish to wait for the ice to thaw (otherwise they get netted with the ice). We will be lowering the water level again as guided by the contractors and Horley Piscatorial Society and the fish will be removed when the weather and conditions best allow.
To improve the oxygenation of the water in the Lower Lake and thus reduce the risk of algal bloom, last summer and autumn we introduced more aquatic planting, which is enclosed to prevent it being eaten by the fish and wildfowl, and in 2006 when we carried out significant improvements to the lake; the reed bed was reintroduced and a bales of barley straw were submerged, known for its oxygenating properties.
We are planning further aquatic planting in both lakes again later in the year.
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went to the lakes for the first time the other day and what a lovely setting i do amateur photography and had a great time if you need any help in maintaing the site eg litter picking i am avaiable most weekends
I visit the lake regular also a keen photographer, I am disgusted at the lack of facilities at the car park, the toilets are out of order, because the local council this is Reigate and Banstead Council cannot afford to maintain these toilets to a high standard instead they give the job to a groundsmen, who says its not his job anyway, what the hell is going on here the place is a tip, and money needs to be pumped into this lovely area of natural beauty to maintain the gronds and the toilet facities for all to use.
Tony – thanks for your comments – I would disagree that the place is a “tip”; the Council does what it can to maintain the facilities. We would love to have the money to invest in new facilities, but there just isn’t the funding to do so. Equally if there were more volunteers willing to do a bit to help maintain the area (we already have some who litter pick) then we could do much more – if you are interested in helping please let me know and I will pass your details onto the local management group for the area.
Julian – Thanks for your reply, there is a lot the council can do with the funding available, is to stop wasting it, instead to focus on the area of the car park and lake edges, the area is a tip, it is a pity that you cannot get out of your office more often to see what I mean, the area could be more inviting, by simple maintenance by someone who take pride in their job instead of just taking the wage, a bit of window dressing to the are around the toilet, cutting and trimming of hedges and shrubs, and making the area presentable, as for volunteering yes I would be prepared to strim and trim the hedges in question, the council supplies the equipment I will do the rest.
What has happened to the lakes? A couple of weeks back I fished there all day and didnt catch a thing, infact I dont recal a single bite. Whats up with that?
Oh wait I remember now, Reigate & Banstead sold the surviving fish to fund some new CCTV cameras.
Surprised you haven’t sold the Swans yet too…you could get a good price for them. Think of all the hanging baskets they would buy for next years South East in bloom comp!
Oh yeah and the toilets are a health hazard.
I too visit frequently to take photographs, and don’t think it is a tip. I love the wild areas for butterflies in summer.
The only complaint I have is that I nearly got run over by a family cycling round the lakes, I was on the footpath at the bottom lake when they came at great speed round a blind bend (the view was obscured by a bush).
Perhaps no cycling signs would stop this – it would have been a hazard to eldery or people with small children, I managed to quickly get off the path as they had no intention of stopping.
Thanks Tony for your offer. I will email you separately about it and we can see how you can get involved.
Lucy – we have a policy of including all posts unless they are defamatory, therefore yours just qualifies. As the Council has said before the fish weren’t sold to fund CCTV.
You are welcome to your point of view but the majority of users of the lakes were very unhappy with things as they were a few years ago, when there were a lot of problems associated with more intensive fishing. These are not commercial lakes, they are a public amenity so we have to cater for as many different users as possible, not just those wanting to fish.
I would like to reply to Tony – please don’t ask the council to strim or mow the wild areas as they are havens for butterflies. I have found Small Coppers, Common Blues and the usual large whites, red admirals, peacocks plus cinnebar moths and caterpillars, Mother Shipton moths and of course lots of bees. The council already mows some wild areas around the borough so I have to find new places for butterflies.
This area is not a park as such but a wildlife area and should be managed as such. I don’t use the toilets so can’t comment, I only live down the road.
I had a pleasant walk around the lower lake recently and found the general environment very tidy and well maintained. As an angler and part-time bird spotter I was pleased to see great crested grebes on the lake – an indication of a healthy fish population. I also saw a large shoal of small roach actively feeding on the water surface. I was also impressed with the bankside landscaping with fishing positions that provide comfortable places for the anglers to sit, with small trees and water plants (and floating islands) providing natural cover for the wildlife. The car parking is convenient and spacious and altogether it seems a very pleasant place to visit, for both angling or walking.
Paul – many thanks for your comments.
I would like to ask the council if they could encourage people if they have to feed the swans etc to do that on the top lake (wildlife reserve). This would then allow the bottom lake to recover from years of pollution as a direct result of overfeeding the swans & ducks, the birds follow children around the lake and are far from being “wild”. I’m sure that a bread diet cannot do the birds much good in terms of health, possibly providing a bird feeding station on the top lake would encourage people to feed the wildlife sensibly with a sign at the bottom lake informing people that if they would like to feed the birds there is an area and provided at the top lake, wildlife reserve. I would also like the council to consider planting lilly pads as this would not only improve the aesthetics of the lake but also provide additional cover for aquatic life. Advertising volunteer working parties in the local press would get people to take pride in Earlswood lakes once more.
Mr Mansell – many thanks for your comments, which I think are all very sensible. I have passed them on to Cllr Thomson, who chairs the Earlswood Common Steering Group, and the relevant Council officers, for consideration.
I have just seen what I think is a terrapin in the top lake – by the island. I presume these shouldn’t be in the lakes, will these upset the ecosystem?
Gill – thanks for letting us know – I will refer this onto the relevant people to investigate.